BILL NUMBER: SJR 31	CHAPTERED  09/20/00

	RESOLUTION CHAPTER   163
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   SEPTEMBER 20, 2000
	ADOPTED IN SENATE   AUGUST 30, 2000
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY   AUGUST 28, 2000
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   AUGUST 14, 2000

INTRODUCED BY   Senators Figueroa and Escutia

                        MAY 4, 2000

   Senate Joint Resolution No. 31--Relative to blood centers.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SJR 31, Figueroa.  Blood centers:  reimbursement.
   This measure would request the Governor to urge the federal
government to ensure that adequate reimbursement measures be
implemented for all mandated safety initiatives imposed on blood
centers.




   WHEREAS, California's full-service blood centers are increasingly
unable to meet the state's demand for blood, particularly red blood
cells, due to the lack of quality sustaining reimbursement; and
   WHEREAS, The 18 community full-service blood centers that comprise
"Blood Centers of California," are this state's primary providers of
its blood supply; and
   WHEREAS, The estimated need for 1999 was 1.1 million pints of red
blood cells, but Blood Centers of California collected fewer than
900,000 pints of red blood cells; and
   WHEREAS, All patients, especially cancer and surgery patients,
accident victims, and transplant recipients, are affected by blood
shortages; and
   WHEREAS, In recent years, escalating costs for unfunded
governmental safety initiatives have forced the members of Blood
Centers of California to reduce the funds available for donor
recruitment and other valuable programs; and
   WHEREAS, Blood Centers of California members have lost
approximately $33 million over the past three years, forcing the
majority of the state's community full-service blood centers to cut
services or face potential closure; and
   WHEREAS, Medicaid and Medicare programs as well as health
maintenance organizations and other third-party payers have provided
insufficient reimbursements to cover the costs of a safe and adequate
blood supply for California patients; and
   WHEREAS, A shortage of red blood cells necessary to save the lives
of California patients is a public health risk; now, therefore, be
it
   Resolved by the Senate and Assembly of the State of California,
jointly, That the Legislature of the State of California call upon
the Governor of California to urge the federal government, through
the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) to ensure that
adequate reimbursement measures be implemented for all mandated
safety initiatives imposed upon California's blood centers, in order
to preserve the public health and safety of all Californians; and be
it further
   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the Governor of California, the President and Vice
President of the United States, the Health Care Financing
Administration, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each
Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the
United States.
